This Qualifies As Exciting…

And self-serving, too.

I’ve been told by my publisher that we will be printing a paperback version of Cinderella this February. Technically they will print it and I’ll sit by my mailbox like a kid on Christmas Eve. It will likely include an afterword with an update of last season from where the book left off–I was able to squeeze in a couple early season nonconference games–and the start of this season.

Of course the paperback version will have a smaller cover price for you cheapskates those of you who have only recently stumbled upon it.

My weekend has just gotten better.

[UPDATE] This question just crossed my mind. Who has it better this Labor Day weekend, ODU or UNCW? One team gets six hours of basketball and two hours of free time on the beach in the Bahamas. The other team  gets two hours of basketball and six hours of free time on the beach in Wilmington.

Not as easy as one would think.

Token Effort, But A Little Something for Everyone…

Holiday weekend, folks. That means that unless Blaine Taylor decides to defect to the Bahamas over the weekend, I’ll see you again on Tuesday, unless as my day winds down I find something funny or important or that I just plain like, like this, courtesy of (and thanks to) the new pop boy band The Brothers Mottram. (I’m kidding, but you should see the posters.)

CAA stuff…okay ODU stuff:

Rich Radford checks in again with quality ODU information. Southpaws will be especially appreciative of the effort. Money quote:

“Cal Bowdler told me the other day that he worked with Sam Harris over the summer and expects the big guy to be a much bigger presence this season.”

Interesting info, but the smart aleck in me is dying to say: What do you expect Bowdler to say…”I worked with him all summer and he sucks.” But seriously, Sam Harris making a difference on the floor makes ODU a much more dangerous team. Sam Harris being the same Sam Harris we’ve seen for three seasons doesn’t hurt ODU. But Sam Harris as an impact player? Hoo-boy.

The ODU sked is out, as well:

Oct 28(Sat)- Blue/White scrimmage
Oct 31(Wed)- Mt. Olive College (exh)
Nov 5 (Mon)- Shepherd Univ (exh)
Nov 11(Sun)- SC St
Nov 16(Fri)- Toledo (homecoming)
Nov 18 (Sun)- @Clemson
Nov 20(Tue)- Iona
Nov 23(Fri) - UNC (@Vegas)
Nov 24(Sat)- Louisville/BYU (@Vegas)
Nov 28(Wed)- Georgetown
Dec 1(Sat)- @Ga St.
Dec 8(Sat)- Md ES
Dec 16(Sun)- Va Tech
Dec 19(Wed)- @Richmond
Dec 21(Fri)- @Winthrop
Dec 29(Sat)- @UAB
Jan 2(Wed)- Hofstra
Jan 5(Sat)- W&M
Jan 9(Wed)- @Towson
Jan 12(Sat)- @Delaware
Jan 16(Wed)- JMU
Jan 19(Sat)- VCU
Jan 23(Wed)- @GMU
Jan 26(Sat)- @W&M
Jan 30(Wed)- UNCW
Feb 2(Sat)- Ga St.
Feb 6(Wed)-@Northeastern
Feb 9(Sat)- GMU
Feb 13(Wed)- Drexel
Feb 16(Sat)- @VCU
Feb 20(Wed)- @JMU
Feb23(Sat)- Bracketbuster(Home)
Feb 27(Wed)- Northeastern
Mar 1(Sat)- @UNCW

The Newest Feature: Benevolence Thursday…

We appreciate the work and insight of others, and there’s no joke attached to that. All the links below deserve reading, not just because it is good stuff, but because we need to support their efforts as well.

Oh, and it isn’t really Benevolence Thursday. I’m just in a good mood and today happens to be Thursday. See how that works? There’s your look into how I quickly post a stupid title the creative process. I’ll randomly post a pile of links when I read a bunch of good stuff. (Side note: wow, I used high-quality words like “bunch,” “stuff,” and “pile” all over the place. Perhaps this is Lazy Thursday.)

Here we go:

Brian Mull tells us about Olivia Newton Moss working out his Seahawks. Money quote:

“I saw the complete T.J. Carter package yesterday. He buried 3-pointers, made strong drives to the rim, penetrated the lane and kicked to wide-open shooters on the perimeter. Of course, he was taking advantage of huffing and puffing newcomers. Still, it was impressive.”

Rich Radford checks in on the same subject, and more, although for ODU. The Monarchs are on their way to the Bahamas.

And don’t forget to head over to NCAA Hoops Today–a treasure trove of information. If this guy doesn’t know it, he knows where to send you to get it. Plus, it doesn’t ever hurt to hate Duke.

Not CAA-based, because we aren’t one-trick ponies:

Dan Steinberg nails it, especially the part where he points out the hyperbole (and hubris) of some writers.

Over at Mr. Irrelevant, Chris Mottram also nails it, doing everyone a favor and putting actual numbers against what we all knew. It’s also the reason why I don’t know that I’ve watched five consecutive minutes of SportsCenter in four years. I work, literally, five blocks from the courts building where the Vick plea deal went down. There was more hype surrounding peanut M&Ms appearing in our vending machine. We care, but not that much.

I urge you to support The Extrapolater in his attempt to create a drinking game around boring college football plays. Here’s a start: every three yard run inside the tackles nets a drink. Defensive guy gets off the ground whooping it up like he just blocked a punt for a game-winning touchdown nets an extra drink. That second part is open to interpretation–my game is a collaborative effort.

G: TB is having fun again, and we’re highly appreciative.

When It Rains, It Pours…

Skip it, for now.

This Is What Happens When Smart People Are Willing To Break From Norms…

This is absolutely brilliant.

Nor’Easter has taken the “watch our games over the Internet” concept a step further, and done so very commendably. Someone in the athletics department deserves a couple free days off. (Actually two people–the idea guy and the execution guy. It’s well done.)

Here’s what they’ve done, in brief. For details, head over there and read all about it. They were smart enough to include a FAQ page.

Instead of navigating through Your School’s website, finding some clunky interface to pay your one-off fee, Northeastern has created its own site, specifically dedicated to showing Northeastern sports on “teevee” through the web. You can sign up for the overall package, or get it game-by-game.

The commitment is there–it isn’t a random amalgam of basketball games. You get almost all of their varisty sports, and–gasp!–they will publish a schedule.

They may or may not make money from this, but that isn’t the point. They win on so many levels (branding, commitment, and outreach, to name the first three that hit my gourd) that the economics are somewhat irrelevant in the discussion. If one guy, living in Des Moines, ponies up some extra cash to the athletics department, it is worth it. Consider the recruit whose family wants to see him play. Bingo.

And you’d bet they aren’t unhappy rival CAA fans will be signing up.

Part 2: long term. These guys are serious about competing and I’ve already gone on record that they will finish no worse than third next season. This gives them 2007-08 to work out kinks and really be rolling come next season.

Okay brilliant is a bit over the top. But it’s very smart.

Bravo, somebody.

I’m Buying, Part Deux

I’m a little twisted with UNCW and it’s my own fault. You see, I like to be different. Not a malcontent, necessarily, but someone who has no problem looking at a situation from a completely different point of view: my own. Call it contrarian or devil’s advocate, but my view is mine.

Therein lies the rub. Everyone is picking UNCW as their “comeback team” this year in the CAA and that bothers me. You see, I’ve made predictions based solely on the fact that everyone sees the situation one way and that’s the only reason it won’t turn out that way. The Fates love that stuff.

Examples? Everybody knew the Red Sox would choke that big July 1 divison lead and the Yankees would win the division going away. Everbody had Hofstra winning the CAA last year. Nobody would admit to watching America’s Got Talent. (Hey, I loved The Hoff and Cass got robbed, but I digress…)

In this instance, though, I must agree. UNCW is going to be good. It’s about far more than TJ Carter, although that’s a big reason.

Todd Hendley, Vladie Kools, and Daniel Fountain were around for their championship season two years ago. You can look at Montex Downey play and see he has a bright future. UNCW is big and experienced. As odd as it seems, they really need to shoot the ball to be successful, something Daniel Fountain can do. If Fountain proved anything, it’s that he is a catch-and-shoot bomber, not one to curl off a screen or create his own shot. Juco transfer point guard Marlo Davis will allow Fountain that opportunity. Plus,I caught a few minutes of Vladie on the tube last night and he looked slimmer.

UNCW returns its top four scorers, 83% of its scoring, and 67% of its rebounding. And adds Carter.

Nice.

Throw them in that middle of the conference quagmire, and don’t be shocked to see them finish fourth.

***

It hasn’t escaped me that the two teams I really like for this season combined to win 12 games last year. Nuf Ced.

Like I Say, I Always Follow A Job Through to the End…

Am I the only one who watched A Few Dollars More last night? I dare you to tell me Lee Van Cleef isn’t the best good/bad guy ever.

I almost forgot I promised some detail around the teams I like to perform better than expected this season. I may as well start with the team I find very intriguing: JMU.

I did receive a few (more than three, less than five) emails that basically said the same thing: you like James Madison? I thought you followed the conference? Do you realize this isn’t 1994?

Let me be clear in that I’m not saying the Dukes will challenge for the conference title or even a Friday respite come CAA tourney-time. I am saying, though, I can easily see a William & Mary scenario circa 2006.

Even though JMU has posted no more than seven wins in any of its past four seasons—the cumulative total of 25 wins is three less than VCU had all of last season alone—Dean Keener has one thing he hasn’t since he walked onto campus: options. It took longer than expected to clean up the Dillard Mess but he’s done so and this is the year it should take root.

Look, they return four players who averaged double figures in scoring last season. They have Joe Posey, the #2 returning three point marksman and Terence carter, the #3 returning rebounder in the conference. They have the Junkyard Dawg and a sophomore point guard that averaged about 35 minutes last year. (Hint: this year is when those minutes start paying off.)

Oh, and there’s the infusion of a second team All Conference player in Abdullai Jalloh and some toughness and much needed defense in Dazz Thornton. Jalloh is a flat out scorer and brings swagger. Don’t buy it? Ask Old Dominion fans about Isaiah Hunter.

They will need to play defense, an area in which they were woeful last season. The 258 treys they gave up were 30 more bonus shots than the second worst team (Towson). They also gave up 80 or more points seven times.

I’m telling you. Don’t be flummoxed if the Dukes get to 8-10 this year.

And while the days of the Electric Zoo are still in the distance, by the end of this year when JMU scores their first points at the Convo, you won’t be able to hear the seat backs unfolding.

Let Me Get This Off My Chest…

George Mason clocks in at #47 on the Rivals.com Offseason Hunch List. Seems to be about right, I guess. Such lists are difficult and the folks from Rivals didn’t make a mistake. They even include Vlad Moldy Vino in the write up, which is a bonus.

Interesting item is that the folks say that Mason’s NCAA chances may ride on how the team “fares against major-conference teams in the Old Spice Classic in November.”

Somebody isn’t using short term memory in using the “strong against major conference foes” argument. I suggest calling Bruiser Flint.

***

On a personal, non-CAA basketball Side Note: a very nice moment yesterday was destroyed by idiot parents. I happened by the Japan/Georgia extra-inning donnybrook of a LLWS final yesterday–the grass was cut and the Stella cold.

That kid from Georgia hit the walk-off, his teammates celebrated/mobbed for a minute, and then every single one of them headed to the middle of the field. They didn’t go through the handshake line as per usual sportsmanship. They were not just there to shake hands.

No, the 12-year olds were hugging (yes hugging) and consoling their opponents, right there by the pitcher’s mound. I want you to think about that for a moment. These kids from all over the world spent their entire summer playing Lord knows how many baseball games to get to the ultimate of ultimate games. Then they had to go two innings farther to find the winner. At the end, with one team jumping and the other team crying, they all met at the center of the diamond and let it all go. Together. Priceless sportsmanship moment that goes far deeper than sportsmanship.

And then the idiot, corn-dog-eating, mini-van-driving, live-through-your-son-and-haul-your-daughter-around parents started chanting “U-S-A, U-S-A.”

Ruined it.

Every single one of them should’ve been forced to take a punch in the teeth before continuing the celebration.

If This Post Were a Volleyball Player, It Would Be A Setter…

By the time the season rolls around, I’ll come up with some cheesy gimmick for Fridays, since most of my Friday is spent thinking about “when am I going to mow the lawn” and “how many Stellas are in the fridge?”

I’d be witty and informative and have a catchy title, something like Travelocity Friday, where I give you the best places to go when you road trip to CAA cities. (Hey, wait a minute, that might be good…)

Of course, when the season rolls around I’ll have, you know, the pesky Saturday games to talk about. Ah, the tortured life of the blogger.

But I digress…

So it hit me as I was reviewing George Mason info for my Blue Ribbon write up that the summer “Prospectus” has become the industry-standard term and approach sports information offices use to provide preseason data on their team. You can imagine what it contains: last year’s stats, information on freshmen and transfers, and the ubiquitous “we’re going to have to have guys step up” quotes from coaches.

Don’t get me wrong–it is an invaluable source of information and highly useful. (Side note: I believe Jeremy Kniffin from Hofstra was the first to utilize such an approach. Well done.)

But it got me to thinking how I was going to kill time write an inspiring blog entry today. There will be detail all next week, but here goes my first attempt at crossover blogging…your stock tips analysis of the upcoming CAA season.

No, I have been drinking, though upon re-reading what I’ve done I think I’ve been slipped a Mickey.

BUY

UNCW: The Mossmen are loaded. More than 80% of their scoring is back, not including TJ Carter.

JMU: Stop laughing at me and realize Dazz Thronton gives them defense, Abdullai Jalloh gives them a scorer (and swagger), and they actually have depth.

Nor’Easter: You have no idea how much talent and enthusiasm is coming from Boston. And get this: nobody is a senior. I’m calling top three, at worst, next season. Quote me on that.

HOLD

George Mason: I really like these guys but they are expected to be good.

Old Drextra Commonwealth: all four teams lose a lot but have a lot. Pure wait ‘n see.

Delaware: I love the way those kids play for Monte Ross. That Egerson kid is supposed to be something. Need to see it, though. Unless I’m cracking a joke, I hate to guess.

Towson: These guys are going to be interesting. Finally we can talk about them without saying the words Gary Neal. I’m looking forward to watching them grow and progress, and I mean that. It’s the hoops geek in me.

SELL

William & Mary: The problem I see is that everyone got better and they got the same.

Georgia State: You have to have depth in this conference, because it is a bitch of a season. Give Barnes some time, though.

Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money…

All 12 CAA teams will participate in ESPNs BracketBusters matchups this year, set for February 22-23, 2008. (Granted, ESPN officially sanctions only its televised games as the real BracketBusters games, but who’s spliting those hairs?)

Drexel, James Madison, UNC Wilmington, Old Dominion, Towson and William & Mary will play home games, while Delaware, George Mason, Georgia State, Hofstra, Northeastern and VCU are road teams.

ESPN 2 gets six teevee games, ESPNU five games, and ESPN Classic will have one game. The press release also mentions ESPN360 but I thought they shut that budget-hemmorhage down. I could be wrong. I also noticed on the release that as the sponsor of the weekend, ESPN has chosen to subsponsor the event to O’Reilly. I don’t write those jokes, folks–real people with real jobs making real money make those decisions.

But who am I to crack on the event–the CAA is 7-2 in televised contests over the past three years, and without Mason beating Wichita State in the famous Tom Yeager Magic Tie game my book is far shorter.

Matchups are announced on February 4 and game times for teevee hit February 11. There are 12 teams from the CAA and the MAC, 11 teams from the Ohio Valley,  and 10 teams from the Valley Valley.